Career Description: Registered nurses (RNs) work to promote health, prevent disease, and help clients cope with illness. They are advocates and health educators for clients, families, and communities. When providing direct client care they observe, assess, and record symptoms, responses, and progress of clients; assist physicians during examinations, treatments, and surgeries; administer medications; and assist in convalescence and rehabilitation. RNs develop and manage nursing care plans and must possess critical thinking and problem solving skills.

Program Information: The Associates Degree (AD) Nursing Program at Central Lakes College is a practical nursing mobility program designed to educate and prepare qualified licensed practical nurses (LPNs) to take the National Council Licensure Examination for RNs. The program is one calendar year in length, beginning in June with graduation the following May.
This program has an articulation agreement with one or more College(s)/University(ies). For more information on articulation agreements, please visit www.mntransfer.org.

Program Outcomes: Graduates will be able to:

Demonstrate comprehensive, holistic, assessments that include diversity in the dimensions of physical, developmental, emotional, psychosocial, cultural, spiritual and functional status of the client in context of environment. (QSEN Competencies: Patient Centered Care)

Demonstrate development of personal/professional behaviors by implementing one’s role as a nurse in ways that reflect integrity, responsibility, ethical practices, and an evolving professional identity as a nurse committed to evidence-based practice, life-long learning, service learning/civic engagement, caring, advocacy, excellence, and safe quality care for diverse patients within a family and community context. (QSEN Competencies: Patient Centered Care; Evidence Based Practice; Quality Improvement; Safety)

Analyze assessed information to determine effective clinical decision-making through a spirit of inquiry that results in problem resolution, individualizing care through use of the nursing process, and assuring the delivery of accurate, safe care that moves the client and support person toward positive outcomes. (QSEN Competencies: Evidenced Based Practice; Safety)

Special Program Requirements:

Completion of all science courses is required prior to formal acceptance into the AD Nursing Program.

Completion of all other required liberal arts courses is highly recommended prior to application, but can be taken concurrently during the program, however, applications are considered more competitive when general education co-requisites are completed prior to program entry.

A minimum grade of 'C' is required in each of the required courses (liberal arts, sciences and nursing) for the AD Nursing Program. A grade of 'C-minus' is not acceptable.

The applicant must have a minimum 2.75 cumulative GPA in required liberal arts and sciences courses and a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 in the practical nursing program.

Students must apply each year that they are seeking acceptance to the AD Nursing Program. Applications are accepted for the following August beginning each September; the application deadline is February 1st, however, late applications will be reviewed if the program is not filled by the end of May.Admission continues to be highly competitive and in strong demand. Experience working as an LPN is highly beneficial to applicants.

Background study: Any person who has direct contact with patients and residents at health care facilities licensed by the Minnesota Department of Health must have a criminal background check completed. Results of the study are to be on file in the department of nursing before students begin their clinical experiences. Any student who does not pass the criminal background check will not be permitted to participate in clinical experiences, thereby rendering the individual ineligible to progress in the AD Nursing Program. Students should direct questions and appeals to the Minnesota Department of Human Services, Licensing Division, 444 Lafayette Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55155-3842. Phone: (651) 296-3971. Web address: http://www.dhs.state.mn.us/.

Permission from Facility Health Partners for site clinical participation

Immunization documentation requirements

Mandatory orientation session

Accreditation: This program is approved by the Minnesota Board of Nursing and the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The AD Nursing Program is seeking national accreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, Inc.; the program is a candidate for this accreditation with the expectation of obtaining national accreditation in 2013. Information regarding ACEN Accreditation may be found at their web site: www.acenursing.org. ACEN is located at: Accreditation for Commission for Education in Nursing, Inc., 3343 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 500, Atlanta, GA 30326, phone: (414)975.5020.

Admissions: Admission to the Nursing sequence is competitive and based on grades and performance in the PN program and general education courses.

Transfer Opportunities: Broader career opportunities are available for RNs with a bachelor’s or master’s degree in nursing. The counseling department has transfer guides for baccalaureate nursing programs at other colleges. Admission requirements and course equivalencies may vary.
This program has articulation agreements with the following MnSCU institutions: Bemidji State University, Metro State University, Minnesota State University - Mankato, Minnesota State University - Moorhead, St. Cloud State University, Winona State University.

Career Opportunities: RNs make up the largest number of health care professionals in the United States. Currently there are 2.6 million RN jobs in the nation with an expected job growth rate of 22% accounting for a much more rapid growth rate than the national average for all other professions. The median salary for RNs is $62,450. Information about RN jobs in Minnesota may be found at: http://www.nursingjobs.org/rn/minnesota.